Texas members call for IG investigation into VA

Published 7:23 am, Tuesday, May 13, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the Texas delegation today called for an Inspector General investigation into allegations that Veterans Affairs officials in Central Texas manipulated medical appointment data in order to conceal long wait times for veterans seeking care.

According to media reports, employees at the North Central Federal Clinic in San Antonio, the Austin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic and Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center were instructed by supervisors to ensure that wait times for veterans were as “close to zero days as possible.” An employee of Veterans Affairs who recently worked at all three clinics claims that staffers falsely logged patients’ desired appointment dates to closely coincide with appointment openings. But in reality, veterans were left waiting for months.

These new allegations come on the heels of reports that at least 40 veterans in Phoenix died while waiting to receive care.

Led by Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21), members of the Texas delegation wrote Veterans Affairs Acting Inspector General Richard Griffin calling on him to immediately initiate investigations into all three VA facilities.

“The policy of falsifying medical records is dishonest, deceptive, and injurious to veterans,” wrote the members. “Swift action must be taken to protect the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans.”

“We understand that your office has staff in San Antonio reviewing these allegations,” the letter continued. “However, we want to make sure that your office is also investigating the potential misconduct that may have affected veterans seeking care in Waco and Austin. Any individuals found to have engaged in misconduct or mismanagement must face serious consequences.”

The members urged Inspector General Griffin to “expeditiously and thoroughly investigate the claims regarding misconduct” and report back to Congress on his findings.

We are writing to express our concern over recent allegations that employees at the North Central Federal Clinic in San Antonio, Texas, as well as the Austin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic and the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, manipulated medical appointment data in order to conceal long wait times for veterans seeking care.

An employee of the VA who has recently worked at all three of these facilities claims that he and others were directed by supervisors to ensure that wait times for veterans were as “close to zero days as possible.” To achieve this, employees falsely logged patients’ desired appointment dates to closely coincide with appointment openings. But in reality, veterans were left waiting for months. This policy of falsifying medical records is dishonest, deceptive, and injurious to veterans.

The VA facilities in question serve tens of thousands of veterans in San Antonio, Austin, Waco and the surrounding communities. These brave men and women served their country admirably and they deserve the highest standard of medical care and family support services available. Anything less is unacceptable.

The allegations of mismanagement and deception by the VA are especially troubling because of reports that at least 40 veterans died while waiting to receive care in Phoenix. Swift action must be taken to protect the health and well-being of our nation’s veterans.

We understand that your office has staff in San Antonio reviewing these allegations. However, we want to make sure that your office is investigating the potential misconduct that may also have affected veterans seeking care in Waco and Austin.

We ask that you expeditiously and thoroughly investigate the claims regarding misconduct at these VA facilities and report your findings back to Congress. Any individuals found to have engaged in misconduct or mismanagement must face serious consequences.